That year, the 24th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans took place July 28th and 29th. The month and a half delay corresponded with circuit renovations following the accident on June 11, 1955. At the time, Jaguar dominated at Le Mans. 1956 saw the fourth win for Jaguar. Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson won the second consecutive victory for the Type D, one of the most beautiful cars of the era. Its profile lines were owed to Malcolm Sayer, an aeronautics engineer. With several distinctive traits: an aerodynamic headrest stretched back into a shark fin, and a long sloping front hood. Three Type Ds figured in the top 10 at the 1956 24 Hours: in addition to Flockhart and Sanderson, Freddy Rousselle-Jacques Swaters and Mike Hawthorn-Ivor Bueb (winners in 1955) finished fourth and sixth respectively.

The Jaguar Type D won a third victory in 1957. Flockhart was at the wheel again, that time along with Ivor Bueb. From 1951 to 1957, the British manufacturer racked up five wins. Malcolm Sayer achieved another master stroke in creating the Type E, one of the greatest roadsters in the history of British automobiles. It inherited one of the Type D's characteristics: its very long hood, affirming its uniqueness. Thereafter, Ferrari resumed its relentless hold on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with seven victories between 1958 and 1965. And it would take until 1988 and 1990 to see Jaguar again on the highest step on the podium.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JULY 28-29 1956. Three-time winner in 1955-56-57, the Jaguar Type D (here the one driven by Flockhart-Sanderson, the winners in 1956) marked the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.